Whatever you do, don’t flinch.
On Sunday, it was one division rival helping another division rival out.
The Ravens were on the brink of blowing another late-game lead, but they got a little help from their friend(s) — both the Browns, and the refs.
On a 55-yard field-goal attempt with time ticking down in the fourth quarter, referees whistled the play dead, throwing a flag for a false start on the Browns offensive line. The kick turned from a 55-yarder to a 60-yarder, and the Ravens would block the kick.
While it’s hard to see exactly where the false start came from, on a closer look, it looks like a player along the left side of the offensive line took a small step back. But, Ravens players jumped into the neutral zone less than a second before
THE BROWNS DIDNT MOVE @NFLOfficiating pic.twitter.com/QmR4BTCIds
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) October 23, 2022
Damn. Looks like it was a good call. Here’s the false start on that game-deciding drive. #Browns pic.twitter.com/JpckBcfJc0
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) October 23, 2022
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That said, neutral zone infraction can only be called when it affects a player no more than two positions away. So, in this case, it would still be a false start, as no players across from the Ravens players would jump.
There’s multiple things here:
1) It’s slow mo. Snapper dips his head and moves the ball much quicker in real time.
2) Ravens are in the neutral zone but that isn’t a penalty by itself.
3) TE spot on the left DOES move before Baltimore DL touches OL, which is a false start. https://t.co/cbKZiLwEoc— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) October 23, 2022
In either case, it’s a razor-close call that ultimately favored Baltimore, with the Ravens blocking the kick.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game he still hasn’t gotten an explanation why officials called a false start on the field goal try.
Lamar Jackson and Co. entered the fourth-quarter with a 23-13 lead, and gave up a touchdown with nine minutes left. letting the Browns get within three.
A Justice Hill fumble on the ensuing drive would leave the door open for the Browns to tie or take the lead, leading to the field goal opportunity.
The Ravens were able to squeak out a victory despite Lamar Jackson having the worst Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE) in the early window of games (-10%) and Jacoby Brissett having the best (+14%).
Don’t expect the Ravens to send the Browns a Christmas card, though.